Snippet #2106728

Vetracene's lips curled up slightly as the nomad noticed her immediately. Though she had blatantly given herself away, she was able to confirm her suspicions with how fast she had been detected. Unsurprisingly, the six she had identified turned to her first. The guards weren't much slower than the mercenaries, and most people wouldn't have noticed. But Vetracene had gauged the six's reaction time in comparison to that of the guards. Those of the latter had trained for much of their life. For their spatial awareness to be outclassed meant that those who were faster were worthy of attention.

The lack of reaction from the nomad only furthered Vetracene's interest. To notice a possible foe but not outright make a move took a considerable amount of restraint. The other woman's control over the large white tiger only made that clearer. Vetracene had to admit that she was relived the nomad and her tiger didn't make a move. The beast would have no doubt closed in on her in the blink of an eye. Had that happened, she would have been in a compromising situation to say the absolute least.

"And who might you be, if I may ask ya ma'am?"

Vetracene turned to the dwarf, while not removing her attention from the others. His stance was rigid as if he was more than ready for a right. He didn't seem hostile though, a surprise considering the mutilated bodies behind him. If he wasn't going to antagonize her, then she would be courteous . . . for now. She'd rather avoid a confrontation with a master of physical combat. Before she could answer the question, however, the redheaded elf stepped forward. As the younger revealed the tattoos on her arm, Vetracene raised an eyebrow. Magic that required a visible conduit on the body for power could be very powerful.

"Sister-elf. Why are you here? To help us with the mission, or are you with the ones who committed this crime against the humans?"

The elder elf attempted to answer, but the dwarf beat her to it. His small annoyance didn't make it past her attention.

"Ya might wanna reconsider the wording of that question lass..."

Vetracene smiled. It was far from pleasant but it held no traces of hostility. "Indeed. Of course that may have been your intention." She curtsied and flourished her hands away from her body. Though she lowered her head, her eyes didn't leave the younger elf's face, nor did her attention waiver. "Vetracene Tathren, master of stone, sister-elf." Before she could answer the elf's question, she was stopped yet again.

"Are we supposed to believe you were waiting for us? Or perhaps hoping for a group such as ours?" the half-elf said as he approached her from the side. He didn't seem to expect an answer, as he slammed his staff in the ground and walked straight to her. His smirk didn't unnerve her. She had seen that look plenty of times in the mirror.

"So.....when did you lose our friends here? You are seeking the same thing as we are, but seemed to have been following the wrong group......or the right group, if you had seen anything....." He chuckled. "Which you didn't." He stopped in front of her and stared.

Vetracene scowled but was impressed, and annoyed, by how easily he had read her. No, he hadn't read her, per se. It was as if he knew, as if he had seen through her icy overlay. Her eyes drifted to the eyepatch covering his left eye and raised an eyebrow. He was definitely an interesting one.

The half-elf turned around to speak supposed Captain of the guards. "Her objective and ours is the same, she should join us. She managed to evade detection for the better part of a day. She's obviously skilled." He turned back and smiled, this time genuinely. "I would be willing to vouch for her."

Vetracene kept her eyebrow raised. This half-elf was an amusing one in addition to be interesting. To all but take the situation into his hands would have made her laugh under lighter circumstances. She released her chill of the water in the air, literally warming the atmosphere. Such manipulation was a parlor trick. If the Captain, or any of the others, wanted to make a move, she wanted them to underestimate her. Never underestimate a potential threat, she always told herself.